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North Port, Fla. (970 WFLA)-Sarasota Sheriff's Deputies arrested a woman after discovering she left her 19 dogs in a makeshift kennel without proper shelter or nourishment.
The investigation began on January 27 when Animal Services Officers were dispatched to Mattox Circle in the city of North Port for a report of abandoned dogs.
Officers found several small-breed dogs ranging in age from four-weeks-old to 16 years old, living in wire pens and small carriers. The dogs were exposed to cold weather and deprived of food and clean water.
Agricultural Unit deputies contacted the owner, 54 year old Amy Lovering, who told deputies she constructed the makeshift kennel for the dogs to sleep in while she was out of town.
Deputies learned Lovering, who has two prior arrests in Tennessee for animal cruelty, kept the 19 dogs in the kennel for an extended time between November 2017 and January 2018. Lovering also admitted to keeping 15 of the dogs contained to her pickup truck. The dogs had overgrown fur and nails, were covered in dirt and infested with fleas.
Upon examination, every dog was also suffering from internal parasites due to a lack of veterinary care.
Lovering is charged with two misdemeanor counts of Cruelty to Animals and a single count of Confinement without Food or Water. She remains in custody without bond.
Photo Credit:Sarasota Sheriff's Office